Darrell Wesley Hazelwood, 47, of Princeton was arrested Aug. 10 after the shooting death of Tessa Hill. He was brought Monday before Magistrate Charles N. Poe for a preliminary hearing. He is being held without bond at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver.

Darrel Wesley Hazelwood, 47, of Princeton appears before Circuit Court Judge Mark Wills on Monday with Attorney Joe Harvey. He is charged with first-degree murder in relation to a fatal shooting on Murdock Street in Princeton late Saturday evening. According to witnesses, Hazelwood received injuries from a fight that occurred before shots were fired.

Staff photo by Jessica Nuzzo

Darrell Wesley Hazelwood, 47, of Princeton was arraigned before Circuit Court Judge Mark Wills on a charge of first-degree murder. Hazelwood was arrested Saturday after the shooting death of Tessa Hill.

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Victim's father testifies about fight that preceded fatal Princeton shooting

Darrell Wesley Hazelwood, 47, of Princeton was arrested Aug. 10 after the shooting death of Tessa Hill. He was brought Monday before Magistrate Charles N. Poe for a preliminary hearing. He is being held without bond at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver.

Darrel Wesley Hazelwood, 47, of Princeton appears before Circuit Court Judge Mark Wills on Monday with Attorney Joe Harvey. He is charged with first-degree murder in relation to a fatal shooting on Murdock Street in Princeton late Saturday evening. According to witnesses, Hazelwood received injuries from a fight that occurred before shots were fired.

Staff photo by Jessica Nuzzo

Darrell Wesley Hazelwood, 47, of Princeton was arraigned before Circuit Court Judge Mark Wills on a charge of first-degree murder. Hazelwood was arrested Saturday after the shooting death of Tessa Hill.

PRINCETON – A magistrate ruled Monday that there was probable cause in the case of a Princeton man facing a charge of first-degree murder and forwarded it to the Mercer County Grand Jury.

Darrell Wesley Hazelwood, 47, of Princeton was arrested Aug. 10 after the shooting death of Tessa Hill. He was brought Monday before Magistrate Charles N. Poe for a preliminary hearing. He is being held without bond at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver.

During Monday's hearing, Hill's father, Larry James White of Murdock Street near Princeton, testified about a fight he witnessed outside his home involving Hazelwood, his daughter Tessa Hill, and her longtime boyfriend Ronnie Ferrell.

"When I got outside, Ronnie had (Hazelwood) down on the ground," White said. "They were tussling back and forth."

The fight moved into the street and Ferrell ended up on top of Hazelwood, White said, adding that his daughter tried to pull Ferrell off Hazelwood.

White testified that Hazelwood rose after Ferrell got off him, reached into his waistband, pulled out a gun, cocked it and fired at Ferrell. Ferrell was not hit. White said Hazelwood stated, "This will teach you to double team me (expletive)," and shot Tessa Hill while she was lying in the street. She was shot once in the head.

Poe ruled there was probable cause and sent the case to the Mercer County Grand Jury. The next grand jury will meet in October.

Harvey said that Hazelwood, who had lacerations and other head injuries, needed medical attention and that this would be easier to receive if he was on home confinement. Wills said that due to the charge’s severity, he was denying bond. Hazelwood was remanded to the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver.

Obituaries

Jerome Kern Prunty, 67, transitioned on September 9, 2019 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. He was born in Crumpler, WV to the late John and Hazel Prunty. He is preceded in death by 11 siblings. Jerome attended school in McDowell County. He was a member of Faith Center, Bluefield, WV, un…

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